If you’re unsure what to expect from a new neighborhood, your agent can help.

If you have children, your real estate agent can show you where the schools are, and provide information about school districts, including test scores, extracurricular activities, bus service and more. If you're relocating, your agent may be able to put you in touch with teachers and principals when you visit.

Your agent can also give you pointers on where to shop, eat, and find the kind of lifestyle you’re seeking. These types of local amenities should weigh into your decision-making – and of course, you can always find out more about an area by searching online.

As they say, location, location, location. The neighborhood where a home is located will have a big impact on its price (and on its resale value). You’ll want to be well-informed.

To find out if a home you’re looking at is priced well for the area, we suggest:

• Checking out public records in that neighborhood. You can get all the information you want about recent sales, including prices and listing times, by calling the County Recorder of Deeds.
• Asking your real estate agent. If you're interested in a particular home, an agent may be able to provide you with pricing for “comparables”—other homes in the area that are roughly the same size and age. There will always be some differences between homes, but this is still a good way to evaluate the seller's asking price.